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Harry Hamlin

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For the English footballer, see Harry Hamblin.

Harry Hamlin
Hamlin in 2023
Born
Harry Robinson Hamlin

(1951-10-30) October 30, 1951 (age 73)
Pasadena, California, U.S.
EducationUniversity of California, Berkeley
Yale University (BA)
American Conservatory Theater (MFA)
OccupationActor
Years active1976–present
Known forL.A. Law
Clash of the Titans
Shameless
Mad Men
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1985; div. 1989)​
​
​
(m. 1991; div. 1992)​
​
​
(m. 1997)​
Partner(s)Ursula Andress
(1979–1983)
Children3, including Amelia Gray Hamlin
Websiteharryhamlin.com

Harry Robinson Hamlin (born October 30, 1951) is an American actor, author, and entrepreneur. He is best known for his roles as Perseus in the 1981 fantasy film Clash of the Titans, a role he reprised in 2007's Santa Monica Studio video game God of War II, and as Michael Kuzak in the legal drama series L.A. Law, for which he received three Golden Globe nominations.[1][2] For his recurring role as Jim Cutler on the AMC drama series Mad Men, Hamlin received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.[3]

Early life

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Hamlin was born October 30, 1951, in Pasadena, California, the son of Bernice (née Robinson), a socialite, and Chauncey Jerome Hamlin, Jr., an aeronautical engineer.[4][5] As a teenager, he attended Flintridge Preparatory School, near Pasadena, and The Hill School, a private boarding school in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, where he played soccer and lacrosse and acted in the school's musicals and plays. He also attended classes at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts. Hamlin attended University of California, Berkeley, and is an alumnus of the Theta Zeta chapter of the national fraternity Delta Kappa Epsilon, of which he was president in 1972.

Hamlin graduated from Yale University in 1974 with dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in drama and psychology. He then attended the American Conservatory Theater's advanced actor training program, from which he was awarded a Master of Fine Arts degree in acting in 1976.[5] There, Hamlin starred in a production of Equus, attracting the attention of director Stanley Donen.[6]

Career

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Film and television

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Hamlin appeared in the 1976 television production of Taming of the Shrew and also had the title role in the 1979 television miniseries Studs Lonigan. He starred in Movie Movie with George C. Scott in 1978, for which he received his first Golden Globe Award nomination.[7] His big-screen break was a starring role in the 1981 Greek mythology fantasy epic Clash of the Titans.[6] Afterwards, his career faltered somewhat[8] with such controversial films as Making Love in 1982 (the first gay themed love story to be produced by a major studio, Twentieth Century Fox)[9] and Blue Skies Again (1983).[10] He returned to television appearing in the miniseries Master of the Game (based on the novel by Sidney Sheldon) in 1984 and Space (based on the novel by James A. Michener) in 1985.

Hamlin appeared on the NBC legal drama series L.A. Law, playing attorney Michael Kuzak. He remained on the series from 1986 to 1991 during which time he was voted People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1987.[10] Hamlin left the series at the end of the fifth season having been nominated three times for Best Actor in a Television Series - Drama by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.[11]

In early 1991 Hamlin appeared in the music video and sang in the choir on the song "Voices That Care" which was made in support of U.S. troops who were stationed in the Middle East and involved in Operation Desert Storm.[12] In 1992, Hamlin guest starred in two episodes of Batman: The Animated Series as Cameron Kaiser and Anthony Romulus. In 1995, he participated in the documentary film, The Celluloid Closet where he discussed his role in the film Making Love.[13]

In 2001, he starred in the television comedy Bratty Babies, and in 2002 he reprised the role of Michael Kuzak in an L.A. Law reunion television film.

In 2004, Hamlin began a recurring role on the television series Veronica Mars.[14] He played fading action hero Aaron Echolls, father to central show character Logan Echolls who had a turbulent relationship with him. Hamlin's character states that he (like the real-life Hamlin) was People magazine's 'Sexiest Man Alive' in 1987.[15][16] Aaron's wife, Lynn, was played by Hamlin's real-life wife, Lisa Rinna. Hamlin appeared beginning in the sixth episode of the first season, "Return of the Kane", and made his last appearance in the second season finale, "Not Pictured". In 2006, Hamlin took part in the third season of Dancing with the Stars with Ashly DelGrosso, but was voted off the show in the third week.[17]

In 2009, Hamlin starred in the series Harper's Island as Uncle Marty. He was killed abruptly in the first episode by being cut in half while he dangled from a broken wooden bridge.

In June 2010, Hamlin guest-starred in an episode of Army Wives and then became a recurring cast member.[18]

In June 2010, Hamlin starred in the Hallmark Channel film You Lucky Dog.

On December 4, 2008, TV Guide reported that Hamlin and Rinna signed a deal to create a reality television series[19] called Harry Loves Lisa that is based around their family life. The series was developed by TV Land and premiered on October 6, 2010.

In 2012, Hamlin began playing Lloyd Lishman, an older lover to Ian Gallagher (Cameron Monaghan) on the US version of Shameless (7 episodes before the end of Season 3).

Hamlin appeared in an adult diaper commercial with his wife during a primetime television program.[20]

Beginning on April 28, 2013, Hamlin appeared in several episodes of season six (1968) of Mad Men as ad executive Jim Cutler after the merger of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce and Cutler Gleason and Chaough. Hamlin was nominated for a 2013 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his appearance in "A Tale of Two Cities".

In 2016, Hamlin was cast in the Epix comedy Graves[21] starring Nick Nolte, and in 2017, Hamlin was cast as Addison Hayes, a mysterious and powerful mastermind whose agenda collides with Swagger, in the USA Network show Shooter.[22]

In 2022, Hamlin was cast as Cortland Mayfair in AMC's Mayfair Witches, based on the gothic supernatural trilogy Lives of the Mayfair Witches by author Anne Rice.[23]

Stage

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Hamlin made his Broadway debut in 1982 playing Moe Axelrod opposite Frances McDormand in the Broadway revival of Clifford Odets' Awake and Sing![24]

An avid Shakespearean actor, Hamlin played the title role in Hamlet at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey, where he played Faust in Doctor Faustus the following year.[25]

In 1994, Hamlin received a Helen Hayes Award nomination for his portrayal of the title role in Henry V at the Shakespeare Theater Company in Washington, D.C.[26]

In 1996, Hamlin returned to Broadway as Michael Buchanan in Tennessee Williams' Summer and Smoke at the Roundabout Theater.[27]

Other work

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In 2010, Hamlin authored Full Frontal Nudity: The Making of an Accidental Actor, published by Scribner, wherein he shares stories of his early life before becoming a film actor. (ISBN 1-4391-6999-3)[28][29]

Entrepreneurship

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Hamlin is an advocate for fusion power[30] and was an angel investor[31] and co-founder of TAE Technologies,[32][33] formerly known as Tri Alpha Energy. TAE Technologies states that it is in the final stages of the research and development of a clean, non-radioactive fusion power generator.[34]

Hamlin delivered a talk on fusion at the TEDX LA conference in 2016 entitled, "You Don't Have To Be a Rocket Scientist To Be a Futurist!"[35] Hamlin was also a board member of Advanced Physics Corporation.[36][37]

Hamlin was president and CEO of the Belle Gray women's clothing boutiques in Los Angeles.[38] Hamlin launched The Lisa Rinna Collection with Lisa Rinna for QVC in 2012.[39]

Hamlin is also on the board of governors of the National Space Society.[40]

Personal life

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Hamlin with then-wife Laura Johnson at the 1987 Emmy Awards

Hamlin was in a relationship with actress Ursula Andress after meeting on the set of Clash of the Titans in 1979.[41] They had a son, Dimitri Hamlin, in 1980.[42] Although an engagement was announced,[43] the couple never married.[42] In 1983, Hamlin broke up with her.[44]

From 1985 to 1989, he was married to actress Laura Johnson and, between 1991 and 1992, to actress Nicollette Sheridan.[45][46]

Since 1997, Hamlin has been married to actress Lisa Rinna, whom he met in 1992. They have two daughters, Delilah (born 1998)[47] and Amelia (born 2001),[48] who both appeared in the reality shows Harry Loves Lisa and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills with their parents. The couple also starred in the first season of Veronica Mars as Aaron and Lynn Echolls, a married couple. They also starred as a married couple in the 2001 Lifetime film Sex, Lies & Obsession.

Hamlin's wives have all been prime time soap-opera actresses: Rinna starred on Melrose Place,[49] Sheridan was a regular on Knots Landing, Desperate Housewives, and the Dynasty reboot, and Johnson was a regular on Falcon Crest (on which Andress later made guest appearances).

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1978 Movie Movie Joey Popchik
1981 Clash of the Titans Perseus
1981 King of the Mountain Steve
1982 Making Love Bart McGuire
1983 Blue Skies Again Sandy Mendenhall
1985 Maxie Himself
1993 Save Me Jim Stevens
1993 Under Investigation Detective Harry Keaton
1994 Ebbtide Jeff Warren
1997 Allie & Me Dustin Halaburton
1998 Frogs for Snakes Klench
2001 Perfume Hancock
2002 Shoot or Be Shot Jack Yeager
2002 Roads to Riches Dan Smith
2008 Strange Wilderness Sky Pierson
2015 Bleeding Heart Ed
2015 The Meddler TV Dad
2016 Director's Cut Godfrey Winters
2016 Rebirth Gabe
2016 The Bronx Bull Lenny
2018 No Alternative William Harrison
2023 80 for Brady Dan O'Callahan [50]

Television films

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Year Title Role Notes
1987 Laguna Heat Tom Shephard
1989 Dinner at Eight Larry Renault
1990 Deceptions Nick Gentry
1991 Deadly Intentions... Again? Charles Raynor
1992 Deliver Them from Evil: The Taking of Alta View Richard Worthington
1993 Poisoned by Love: The Kern County Murders Steve Catlin Also known as Murder So Sweet
1994 In the Best of Families: Marriage, Pride & Madness Fritz Klenner
1995 Tom Clancy's 'OP Center' Paul Hood
1995 Her Deadly Rival Jim Lansford
1997 Badge of Betrayal Sheriff Dave Ward
1997 Night Sins Chief Mitch Holt
1998 Like Father, Like Santa Tyler Madison
1998 The Hunted Doc Kovac
1998 Stranger in Town Jack
1999 Silent Predators Vic Rondelli
2000 Quarantine President Kempers
2001 Sex, Lies and Obsession Cameron Thomas
2002 Disappearance Jim Henley
2002 L.A. Law: The Movie Michael Kuzak
2010 You Lucky Dog Jim Rayborn
2012 Christmas High School Reunion Mr. Taylor
2012 Shadow of Fear Richard Steele

Television series

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Year Title Role Notes
1979 Studs Lonigan Bill 'Studs' Lonigan 3 episodes
1984 Master of the Game Anthony James 'Tony' Blackwell 3 episodes
1985 Space John Pope 5 episodes
1986–91 L.A. Law Michael Kuzak 102 episodes
1988 Favorite Son Senator Terry Fallon Episode: "Part One"
1992 Batman: The Animated Series Anthony Romulus, Cameron Kaiser Voice, 2 episodes[51]
1992 The Legend of Prince Valiant Sir Lymon Voice, episode: "The Traitor"
1997 Ink Brian 4 episodes
1997 The Nanny Professor Steve Episode: "Educating Fran"
1998 The Outer Limits Ford Maddox Episode: "Monster'
1999–2000 Movie Stars Reese Hardin 21 episodes
2001 Touched by an Angel Liam Episode: "Winners, Losers & Leftovers"
2004–06 Veronica Mars Aaron Echolls 12 episodes
2005 Arrested Development Himself Episode: "For British Eyes Only"
2007 Law & Order Randall Bailey Episode: "The Family Hour"
2009 Harper's Island Uncle Marty Dunn 2 episodes
2010–11 Army Wives Professor Chandler 8 episodes
2010 Harry Loves Lisa Himself 2 episodes
2011 Curb Your Enthusiasm Dino Episode: "The Smiley Face"
2011 Franklin & Bash Rick Paxton Episode: "Bro-Bono"
2012–14 Shameless Lloyd "Ned" Lishman 8 episodes
2013–14 Mad Men Jim Cutler 15 episodes
2014 Rush Dr. Warren Rush 4 episodes
2014–15 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Chief Charles Patton 2 episodes
2014–22 The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Himself Appearing as Lisa Rinna's husband (guest)
2015 Glee Walter 4 episodes
2016 Mom Fred Hayes 2 episodes
2016–17 Graves Jonathan Dalton 5 episodes
2017–18 Shooter Addison Hayes 3 episodes
2017 Law & Order True Crime Barry Levin 2 episodes
2018 Angie Tribeca Leonard Scholls Episode: "Heading to the Legal Beagle"
2021 Bless the Harts Rod Voice, episode: "Hot Tub-Tation"
2021 The Hot Zone: Anthrax Tom Brokaw 2 episodes[52]
2022 Flowers in the Attic: The Origin Mr. Winfield Episode: "Part One: The Marriage"[53]
2023–present Mayfair Witches Cortland Mayfair Main role[50]

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2007 God of War II Perseus [51]

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Nominated work Result
1979 Golden Globe Awards New Star of the Year – Actor Movie Movie Nominated
1988 Best Actor – Television Series Drama L.A. Law Nominated
1989 Nominated
1990 Nominated
2013 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Mad Men Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Who's a better perseus: harry hamlin or sam worthington?". MTV. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017.
  2. ^ "Harry Hamlin Signs With Paradigm (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. September 6, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  3. ^ "Emmys 2013: The Complete List of Winners". Time. September 22, 2013. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  4. ^ Harry Hamlin Biography - Yahoo! Movies Archived October 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ a b "Last of the Great Romantics". people.com.
  6. ^ a b "Biography for Harry Hamlin". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  7. ^ "Winners & Nominees 1979". www.goldenglobes.com. Archived from the original on January 19, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  8. ^ Respers France, Lisa (January 21, 2020). "Harry Hamlin says playing a gay man in a 1982 film hurt his career". CNN. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  9. ^ "Harry Hamlin says playing gay man in 1982's Making Love led to 'ruffle' in his movie career". Gay Star News. May 30, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  10. ^ a b "All the Sexiest Man Alive Covers". Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  11. ^ "Harry Hamlin". www.goldenglobes.com. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  12. ^ Hutchings, David. "For Harry Hamlin, Life After Ursula Andress Is a Time to Awake and Sing". Archived from the original on April 28, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2015.April 9, 1984. Retrieved on March 8, 2015.
  13. ^ Rooney, David (September 11, 1995). "The Celluloid Closet". Variety. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  14. ^ "Harry Hamlin". Biography.com. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  15. ^ "Harry Hamlin, 1987 - Photos - Look back on People's Sexiest Man Alive through the years". NY Daily News. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  16. ^ "Harry Hamlin Biography @ Reality TV World". Reality TV World. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  17. ^ "Dancing with the Stars". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  18. ^ "Exclusive: Harry Hamlin to Guest-Star on Army Wives". TVGuide.com.
  19. ^ Harry Hamlin, Lisa Rinna Snag TV Land Reality Show" TV Guide. December 4, 2008. Retrieved on December 5, 2008.
  20. ^ "Lisa Rinna, Harry Hamlin join Depend campaign". usatoday.com. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  21. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 19, 2015). "Harry Hamlin Joins Epix Comedy Series 'Graves' As Recurring". Deadline. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  22. ^ Petski, Denise (May 19, 2017). "'Shooter': Harry Hamlin Set To Recur In Season 2 Of USA Drama". Deadline. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  23. ^ Campione, Katie (March 24, 2022). "Harry Hamlin Cast as the Patriarch in AMC's Anne Rice Adaptation 'Mayfair Witches'". The Wrap.
  24. ^ Rich, Frank (March 9, 1984). "Theater: 'awake and Sing!' Revived". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  25. ^ Gussow, Mel (November 6, 1982). "Theater: Harry Hamlin in 'hamlet' at Mc Carter". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  26. ^ "Harry (Hamlin) Just Wild About Henry (V) In DC | Playbill". Playbill. June 7, 1997. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  27. ^ Variety Staff (September 6, 1996). "Summer and Smoke". Variety. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  28. ^ "Nonfiction Book Review: Full Frontal Nudity: The Making of an Accidental Actor by Harry Hamlin". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  29. ^ "Harry Hamlin: Full Frontal Nudity". The A.V. Club. December 9, 2010. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  30. ^ "Mad Men's Harry Hamlin on Tesla, Clean Energy | Fresh Dialogues". www.freshdialogues.com. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  31. ^ Connor, Jackie (November 30, 2018). "How a $1,000 Personal Check turned into a Company with a Multibillion-Dollar Valuation". UCI Beall Applied Innovation. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  32. ^ McMahon, Jeff. "Energy From Fusion In 'A Couple Years,' CEO Says, Commercialization In Five". Forbes. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  33. ^ "YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  34. ^ "Rays of Hope: Fringe Fusion Ventures Take Small Steps Toward Energy Leap". NBC News. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  35. ^ You Don't Have To Be a Rocket Scientist To Be a Futurist | Harry Hamlin, January 19, 2017, retrieved February 21, 2018
  36. ^ Kanellos, Michael. "Hollywood, Silicon Valley and Russia Join Forces on Nuclear Fusion". Forbes.March 11, 2013. Retrieved on October 30, 2013.
  37. ^ "Harry Hamlin Interviewed on Environmentally Safe Fusion Energy Technology". PRNewswire. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved October 30, 2013. September 29, 1993. Retrieved on October 30, 2013.
  38. ^ "Belle Gray Closes Its Doors". www.apparelnews.net. January 11, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  39. ^ "Lisa Rinna Showcases Fashion Line from Iggy Azalea & Nick Young Forever 21 Holiday Collection". ABC News. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  40. ^ "Harry Hamlin". National Space Society. August 3, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  41. ^ Hutchings, David (April 9, 1984). "For Harry Hamlin, Life After Ursula Andress Is a Time to Awake and Sing". People. Archived from the original on April 28, 2016.
  42. ^ a b Wallace, David (July 4, 1983). "'I Want to Be with Him,' Says Ursula Andress, but Harry Hamlin Just Wants to Be on His Own". People.
  43. ^ "Ursula to wed after baby is born in May". The Free Lance–Star. Associated Press. April 28, 1980.
  44. ^ Leonard, Vince (June 29, 1983). "Ursula, Hamlin Split". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  45. ^ "Friday was 'TV Stars' Divorce Day' in L.A.". The Palm Beach Post. September 3, 1989. p. 2A.
  46. ^ "Hamlin divorcing wife". The Evening Press. August 22, 1992. p. 8.
  47. ^ "Move Over, Hadids: These Girls Are the Model Sisters Everyone's Talking About". Vogue. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  48. ^ Chikhoune, Ryma. "Exclusive: Amelia Gray Hamlin, Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin's Youngest Daughter, Is the Newest Real Housewives Scion to Become a Model". W Magazine. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  49. ^ "Lisa Rinna". Biography.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  50. ^ a b Grobar, Matt (March 23, 2022). "Harry Hamlin Joins AMC's Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches As Series Regular, Boards Paramount & Endeavor Content's Tom Brady Pic 80 For Brady". Deadline. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  51. ^ a b "Harry Hamlin (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 4, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  52. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 9, 2021). "The Hot Zone: Anthrax: Harry Hamlin To Play Tom Brokaw, Dylan Baker Also Cast In Nat Geo Series". Deadline. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  53. ^ Porter, Rick (February 2, 2022). "Lifetime Nabs Rights to Flowers in the Attic Author V.C. Andrews' Full Catalog". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
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